Land levelers



R. T. SMITH LAND LEVELERS Aug. 25, 1964 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Jan. 25,1962 INVENTOR.

RAWLEN T. SMITH Attorneys R. T. SMITH LAND LEVELERS Aug. 25, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1962 INVENTOR. RAWLEN T. SMITH AttorneysUnited States Patent 3,145,439 LAND LEVELERS Rawien T. Smith, 4170 RoverCourt, Arvada, Colo. Fiied Jan. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 168,753 Claims. {611.31-179) This invention relates to earth moving equipment and moreparticularly to land leveiers.

In many farming operations it is conventional to periodically levelfields for subsequent planting. This is accomplished by the use of landor earth levelers. Earth levelers usually include a prime mover portion,blade portion, and a float portion all interconnected through arelatively long bridge of which the prime mover body is an integralpart. An intermediate portion of the bridge is usually broken by anarticulated joint. Such a joint or hinge is a substantially verticalpivotal connection which permits limited sidewise movement of thetrailing portions of the bridge and the float.

In larger earth levelers, the bridge may be wheeled at both ends, and itincludes an integral prime mover and a joint as above discussed. Theblade is attached at an intermediate point beneath the bridge. In someearth levelers the float and a bridging A-frame member are pivotallyattached to the rear of a separate prime mover which may be a tractor.This pivotal connection has the characteristics of limited sidewise butno vertical movement just discussed. In this arrangement, the A frameand prime mover together serve as the bridge.

Due to the inherent geometry of such earth levelers and the manner inwhich component parts cooperate, turns cause the blade to dip and gougethe ground. Also, ground depressions and rises cause relative rise ordrop of a side of the blade when the wheels of the prime mover run oversuch contours. Even relatively shallow dips are troublesome since therange of blade movement or the are through which an end thereof travelsis the result of the relative movement of the wheel magnitied by a leverarm equal to the length of the bridge joint.

Because of these inherent characteristics of land levelers, the skill ofthe operator is normally the limiting factor of satisfactory operation.In rough terrain the speed of the leveler must be unduly reduced toprevent undesirable gouging.

proved earth levelers which include an arrangement adapted to compensatefor vertical movement of the land leveler wheels and prevent movementresultant therefrom from being transmitted to the earth leveler blade.

it is still another object of the invention to provide improved landleveler construction which prevents the scraper blade of a land levelerfromdipping on turns whereby much sharper turns may be accomplished inthe operation of the leveler.

Briefly, in one embodiment, an earth leveler embodying the concepts ofthis invention includes a tractor hav ing a rear mounted scraper bladewith a rearwardly extending float supporting A-frame which is pivotallyinterconnected with the tractor. A pair of additional side A-framemembers are included which extend between the float and the pivotalinterconnection with the prime mover. Each of the side A-frames havetheir respective apexes in fixed relation to opposed end portions of theblade. The respective lower legs of the side A-frames are fixed adjacenta lower portion of the joint and lower 7 leg of the central A-framemember. The respective upper legs of each of the side A-frames aredisposed adice jacent an upper portion of the joint and upper leg of thecentral A-frame and are interconnected thereto through separateadjustable lost motion arrangements whereby limited movement is allowedbetween the respective upper arms of the side A-frame members and thejoint.

Other objects and further features and advantages of earth levelerconstruction embodying the concepts of this invention will becomeobvious to one skilled in the art from a study of the following detaileddescription with reference to the exemplary drawings in which likereference numerals are used to designate like parts in the severalviews. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a land leveler embodying the concepts ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational detail of a portion of the construction ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the construction of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top elevation, in partial section of a portionof the construction of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FTG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation in partial sec tion of a portionof the arrangement of FIG. 4;

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation, in partial section, of thearrangement of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top elevation, in partial section, of a portionof the arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The earth leveler of FIG. 1 includes a prime mover 1t and a scraperblade 13 interconnected to an A-frame assembly 12 which is includedalong with the body of the prime mover as the bridge structure of thewhole assembly. The prime mover it) may be, as shown, a tractor.conventionally, the scraper 13 is included in the assembly forward ofthe bridge joint so as to permit adjustment for depth of cut. Asubstantially centrally located A-frame member 14 and a pair of sideA-frame members 15 and 16 extend from a float 11 to a first yoke 17.Thefirst yoke 17 is interconnected to the scraper 13 and to therespective A-frames to form the bridge joint. A clevis 1.8 is spacedforwardly of scraper 13 and has a pair of rearwardly extendingarticulated legs 19 and 20' fixed at their respective rear ends to thescraper 13. A pair of frame members 2]; and 22 extend for Wardly fromthe knee of the clevis 18 and are interconnected with an adjacentportion of the prime mover 10. The top of clevis 18 is connected to thetractor through the adjustable jackscrew assembly 25 for verticaladjustment of the assembly. A hand wheel 27 provides ready adjustment ofthe jackscrew 25 and thus the upright positioning of clevis 13 can bevaried.

A bar 30 extends from the top of clevis 18 to the top of yoke 17. Thusforward and rearward movement of the clevis 18 to a selected uprightposition causes a similar movement and positioning of yoke 17. Thebottom of the legs of yokel? are fixed on a bracket 31 rearwardly ofscraper 13. The respective lower legs of each of'the A- frames 14, 1Sand 15 are pivotally connected to the bracket 31 by pivot 40a generallybetween the legs of yoke 17. The upper leg of A-frame 14 is pivotallyfixed to the top of yoke 17. The apex of central A-frame 14 is fixedcentrally of iioat 11. The apexes of each of the outer A- frames 15 and16 are fixed adjacent respective opposed end portionsof the fioat 11.The upper leg ofA-frame 14, as best seen in PEG. 2, is pivotallyconnected to the top of yoke 17 by a pin 49. A pair of spring-loadedrods 42 and 43 extend between the lower leg of A-frame 14 and at spacedpositions on bracket 31. Each end mounting of rods 42 and 43 is pivotal.Thus sidewise movement of the float is limited, and the spring loadtends to pre vent side oscillation.

The respective end portions of the upper legs of each of the sideA-frame members 15, and 16 are positioned adjacent but spaced from the.end of the upper le'g'of A- frame 14. The end of each of the upper legsof the 3 side A-frame members has an extending externally threaded rod45 adapted to pass through an apertured plate 46 mounted on the upperleg of A-frame 14. These rods are maintained therein by nut assemblies47 and nut 47a. The plates 46 extend from the bottom and forwardly inacute angular relation with the lengthwise axis of A-frame 14 as is bestseen in FEGS. 4 and 5. The apertures of plates 46 through which rods 45pass are of a larger diameter than the external diameter of rods 45 sothe rods are free to move back and forth therethrough as limited by theend of the respective frames 15 and 16 and nut assemblies 47. Bysuitable adjustment of the nuts 47 and 47a this range of movement may bevaried.

From the foregoing it should be clear that the main frat e 14 is free toswing in a limited arc to either side about its pivot pins 49 and 451 awhich interconnect its legs to bracket 31 and yoke 1'? as limited byspring-loaded rods 42 and 43. However, the A-frame 14 is generally notpermitted to move in the vertical or up and down direction. By suitableadjustment of the jack-screw through interconnecting linkage elementsthe relative upright position of yoke 17 and thus the position of blade13 may be varied.

Since the lower legs of side A-irame members 14, 15 and 16 and bracket31 are fixed relative to each other in relation to vertical movement,they assist in maintaining the blade 113 in the desired horizontalposition relative to the ground. However, because of the lost motionarrangement of rods 45, plates 46 and nuts 47 and 47a, when a wheel ofthe prime mover drops or rises, as the case may be, as a wheel passesover surface irregularities relative movement of the pins through theapertures in plates 4-6 prevents commensurate movement of the blade.This arrangement also overcomes undesirable twisting torque from beingtransmitted through the central A- frame member 14 to the blade.

As noted above, in previous earth levelers when a relatively sharp curvewas undertaken, the prime mover first entered the arc of the curvewhereas the float being dragged behind tended to follow a relativelystraight path due to the frictional resistance and engagement thereofwith the ground being worked. However, eventually the angle between thebridge portion represented by the prime mover, and the bridge portioncarrying the blade, becomes so great that twisting torque is exerted onthe bridge joint causing it to move outward relative to the verticalthereby causing an undesirable dipping and ground gouging by the outerend of the blade. However, with the instant arrangement the two sideA-frames prevent the twisting torque and the subsequent gouging by theblade. The float thus supports the bridge during turning movement. Theamount of compensation to the twist may be adjusted by the adjustment ofthe lost motion joint.

Having thus described my invention in detail and with sufiicientparticularity as to enable those skilled in the art to practice it, whatI desire to have protected by Letters Patent is set forth in thefollowing claims:

1. In a land leveler including a prime mover, a leveling blade, a floatinterconnected so as to form a bridge, and a joint in the bridgeallowing relative pivotal sidewise movement between adjacent portions ofthe bridge but preventing vertical movement therebetween, the im-vprovement comprising a pair of side frame members, respective rearportions of the side frame members being in fixed relation to opposedend portions of the float, re spective forward and lower portions of theside frame members pivotally connected adjacent a lower portion of thejoint and arranged to follow the relative horizontal movements of thebridge, respective upper and forward portions of the same side framemembers disposed adjacent an upper portion of the joint andinterconnected thereto through lost motion means, whereby limitedtwisting movement is allowed between the respective upper portions ofthe side frame members and the joint without transmission of suchmovement to the blade.

2. In a land leveler including a prime mover, a leveling blade, a fioatinterconnected so as to form a bridge, and a joint in the bridgeallowing relative pivotal sidewise movement between adjacent portions ofthe bridge but preventing vertical movement therebetween, the improvement comprising a pair of side frame members,respective' rear portionsof the side frame members being in fixed relation to opposed endportions of the float, respective forward and lower portions of the sideframe members pivotally connected adjacent a lower portion of the jointand arranged to follow the relative horizontal movements of the bridge,respective upper and forward portions of the same side frame membersdisposed adjacent an upper portion of the joint and interconnectedthereto through adjustable lost motion means, whereby limited twistingmovement is allowed between the respective upper portions of the sideframe members and the joint without transmission of such movement to theblade.

3. In a land leveler including a prime mover, a leveling blade, 21 floatinterconnected so as to form a bridge, and a pivotal joint in the bridgeallowing relative sidewise movement between adjacent portions of thebridge but preventing vertical movement therebetwecn, the improvementcomprising a pair of side A-frame members, the respective apexes of theside frame members being in fixed relation to opposed end portions ofthe float, respective forward portions or" the lower legs of the sideframe members pivotally fixed adjacent a lower portion of the pivotaljoint and arranged to follow the relative horizontal movements of thebridge, respective forward portions of the upper legs of the side framemembers disposed adjacent" an upper portion of the joint andinterconnected thereto through adjustable lost motion means, wherebylimited twisting movement is allowed between the respective upperportions of the side frame members and the joint without transmission ofsuch movement to the blade.

4. In a land leveler including a'priine mover, a leveling blade mountedforwardly of an extending central A-frame member supported at its rearon a float, and an elongated vertical joint connecting the prime moverand the A-frame allowing relative pivotal sidewise movement betweenadjacent portions of the bridge but preventing vertical movementtherebetween, the improvement comprising a pair of side A-frame members,the respective apexes of the side frame members being in fixed relationto opposed end portions of the float, respective forward portions ofthelower legs of the side frame members pivotally fixed adjacent a lowerportion of the joint on the float side thereof and arranged to followthe relative horizontal movements of the central A-fr'ame, respectiveforward portions of the upper legs of the side frame members disposedadjacent an upper portion of the joint and interconnected theretothrough adjustable lost motion means on the float side of said joint,whereby limited tiling movement of the joint is allowed withouttransmission of such movement to the blade.

5. In a land leveler including a prime mover, a leveling blade mounted"forwardly of an extending central A-frame member supported at its rearon a float, and an elongated vertical joint connecting the prime moverand the A-frarne allowing relative pivotal sidewise movement betweenadjacent portions of the bridge but preventing vertical movementtherebetween, the improvement com.- prising a pair of side A-framemembers, the respective apexes of the side frame members being in fixedrelation to opposed end portions of the float, respective forwardportions of the lower legs of the side frame members pivotally fixedadjacent a lower portion of the joint-on the float side thereof andarranged to follow the relative horizontal pivotal movements of thecentral A-frame, re-

spective forward portions of the upper legs of the side fra'me membersdisposed adjacent an upper portion of the joint and interconnectedthereto through adjustable 6 lost motion means, whereby limited tiltingmovement of References Cited in the file of this patent said joint isallowed without transmission of such move- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment tothe blade, and means extending between the prime 12 1 5 Toms A 30 1372mover and the central A-frame member adapted to limit 2,795,060 GeiszlerJune 11, 1957 the relative horizontal arc thru which the central A-frame5 FOREIGN PATENTS mayswing felaliveto theioint- 158,320 Australia Aug.18, 1954

1. IN A LAND LEVERLER INCLUDING A PRIME MOVER, A LEVELING BLADE, A FLOATINTERCONNECTED SO AS TO FORM A BRIDGE, AND A JOINT IN THE BRIDE ALLOWINGRELATIVE PIVOTAL SIDEWISE MOVEMENT BETWEEN ADJACENT PORTIONS OF THEBRIDGE BUT PREVENTING VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, THE IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, RESPECTIVE REAR PORTIONS OF THESIDE FRAME MEMBERS BEING IN FIXED RELATION TO OPPOSED END PORTIONS OFTHE FLOAT, RESPECTIVE FORWARD AND LOWER PORTIONS OF THE SIDE FRAMEMEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ADJACENT A LOWER PORTION OF THE JOINT ANDARRANGED TO FOLLOW THE RELATIVE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENTS OF THE BRIDGE,RESPECTIVE UPPER AND FORWARD PORTIONS OF THE SAME SIDE FRAME MEMBERSDISPOSED ADJACENT AN UPPER PORTION OF THE JOINT AND INTERCONNECTEDTHERETO THROUGH LOST MOTION MEANS, WHEREBY LIMITED TWISTING MOVEMENT ISALLOWED BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE UPPER PORTIONS OF THE SIDE FRAME MEMBERSAND THE JOINT WITHOUT TRANSMISSION OF SUCH MOVEMENT TO THE BLADE.